“Shoot.”
“Why is the business so much more important than the other things you want? You mentioned kids…and you have the sketch of that beautiful home in your room. You understand that Dan needs time with his family, yet…”
“Yet I don’t even look for one myself?”
“Yes.”
“Can’t have a family without security. At least I can’t.”
“Zach, you’re barely thirty-three, you own your own company and, from what you’ve said, it’s doing well.” She moistened her lips. “At least, it seemed that way when I was at your beach house. Isn’t that enough?”
He fell silent for a moment, then he said, “I don’t want a company that does well, Kris. I want a company that leaves everyone else’s in the dust. There’s security, and then there’s success. My goal hasn’t changed since I left here. In fact—” He paused again. “In fact, it’s time I was honest with you.”
She waited, motionless. “About what?”
“About us. You made the right decision not to leave with me after graduation. It would’ve never worked out. I had too much to prove, and the only way I could do it was by working my butt off.”
She didn’t speak, and he went on.
“It would’ve been even worse if we’d had kids. I would’ve worked even longer hours, and you would’ve been raising them alone.” His arms were crossed above her breasts, and he tightened his hold on her. “I can’t bring kids into the world until I can give them everything they need.”
Kristin took his hands, regret creeping in for the child he’d been before Etta welcomed him into her home. “Kids need more than material things,” she said quietly. “They need love and affection and a dad who’ll be there for them.”
“That will never be a problem for me,” he said.
Wouldn’t it? She wondered if he’d ever be able to alter his intense lifestyle, children or not. Habits—work ethics—were difficult to break when a man had been practicing them for his entire adult life. He was different here in Wisdom, more relaxed, more at ease. But she’d seen the transformation that came over him in Nags Head, and it wasn’t attractive. Work was his life. His everything.
“Anyway,” he concluded, “I just wanted you to know that you made the right decision back then. Both times.”
Kristin stared into the fire and doubted that. She’d made decisions that had cost her the only man she’d ever loved. Yet she’d made the only decisions she could have at the time. First for an education that could have made their lives easier, then for her mother and herself. She’d wanted every spare second with her mother that she could have. Zach hadn’t understood because he’d never known that kind of bond with anyone. And that thought only increased Kristin’s sadness.
She turned to trace his cheek and mouth with a finger, and Zach’s serious gray gaze locked on hers. He took her finger into his mouth. Then one of them released a shuddering breath and slowly, they began to touch, to explore. Zach’s lips covered hers softly, gently searching, and Kristin slid her hand into his hair to bring him closer. It lasted a long time and ended sweetly.
The love she felt for him swelled in her chest and radiated outward until it filled every part of her. But it was bittersweet in light of what he’d just told her. He would still be leaving. And wasn’t that best for her, too?
“Hey,” he murmured. “Let’s take a dip in the pond.”
“I already have most of your clothes. Are you offering me swimming trunks now?”
“Nope,” he said, smiling. “Not even if I’d brought swimming trunks along.”
There was no indecision, no hesitation. Kristin rose and slipped the sweatshirt over her head. She felt the warmth of the fire on her skin as she dropped the shirt to the ground.
Then Zach stood, too, his hands gentle as he stroked the sides of her breasts, then moved lower to slide the baggy sweatpants easily over her hips to pool at her feet. Kristin stepped out of them, slipped off her socks. Then all that remained were the white lace bikini briefs she’d worn with her dress. When he bent to take them off, the kiss he nuzzled to her breasts turned her knees to butter.
Zach stepped back to strip off his own clothes and drop them to the ground.
He was beautiful in the light of the fire, flickering shadows boldly outlining every long, straight limb, every corded muscle and sinew. Something tugged sweetly below Kristin’s navel, but at the same time, a tiny voice in her mind whispered a warning. He’s going to hurt you again, and you have only yourself to blame.
I know, she answered silently. But sometimes love makes the only choice it can.
“Ready for that dip?”
She smiled. “I’m ready for something, but I don’t think it’s water.”
“Me, too,” he answered through a chuckle. “But I guess that’s pretty apparent.” Drawing her close, he kissed her softly. “But let’s make it last. I want to remember this night for a long time.”
Kristin swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. They would both have to rely on memories.
The pond was warm. They dunked each other, played like children, bobbed and splashed and kissed in water that came to Kristin’s shoulders. She smiled as Zach flicked his tongue over droplets that clung to her lips. But as the moon climbed higher in the sky, their laughter ceased, and familiar hands beneath the surface of the water did exquisite things to her body. They relearned her curves and hollows…made her tremble inside.
Kristin let her hands rove where they would, too, exploring everything within her reach as she pressed kisses to his collarbone and felt him shudder. It wasn’t long before his mouth claimed hers with crushing urgency. Water swelled and splashed as he jerked his hands under her thighs and brought her legs up to circle his waist.
“So much for swimming,” she said through a throaty laugh.
His low laughter joined hers. “Swimming’s over-rated anyhow. Let’s get out of here before we both drown.”
Zach sloshed out of the water with Kristin still wrapping him securely, and slowly, he lowered them both to the sleeping bag. When he settled on top of her, he kissed her deeply. Deeper still, then sheathed himself in her warmth.
In the pond, he’d wanted her fast and hard. Now that they were here beside the fire, he wanted her slowly…he wanted her gently.
Zach raised himself on his elbows to brush back her bangs. Then with a tenderness that took him completely by surprise, he kissed her forehead and eyelids, kissed her nose and her pretty, puffy mouth.
He looked down at her, seeing her sweetness and her unselfishness, her courage and her strength in the face of so much misfortune. And suddenly, his heart was so full, he could scarcely breathe. He wanted to tell her everything he needed, everything he feared. And she was both. But her dark eyes were turning liquid in the firelight, and her features were softening in a way that said it was the wrong time for talking.
Zach’s heart thudded in his chest as he felt her take all that he was and ever hoped to be, and a real fear rose in him that he might never get that back. Then it was too late to worry about it because the drums were beating in his brain, his tempo was increasing and, with a low groan, he was carrying them both to paradise.
They lay silently for a time, waiting for the shuddering to stop and their breathing to level out.
Presently, Zach rolled away, then rose slightly to pull the flap of the sleeping bag over them. He grinned as Kristin nuzzled her nose into his chest hair and teased groggily, “Afraid your aunt Etta will come roaring up the driveway in your truck and find us like this?”
“Nope, I don’t want to feed the mosquitoes.” Settling down beside her, he snuggled her close and smiled. It felt like the clock had been turned back and they were kids again. It felt good. “Hey…want to get dressed and raid a few gardens?”
She laughed softly. “Feeling like a juvenile delinquent again?”
“I had a lot of fun when I was a juvenile delinquent. If we get caught and someone calls the cops, I’ll pay
the fine.”
“Absolutely not. We’re responsible adults now. We buy our vegetables.”
“Didn’t stop you thirteen years ago.”
“We weren’t responsible adults then.”
She was burrowing into his chest again, bringing back that nice, tingly feeling. The feeling headed south. “Okay, killjoy,” he said through a sigh. “What do responsible adults do after they’ve made love?”
Kristin rolled agilely on top of him, her legs like silk as they laced through his. “They do it again,” she whispered, and settled in for a long, deep kiss.
Chapter 14
T roubled, Zach looked down on Kristin as she lay beside him on the cheap department-store futon. Her breathing was slow and steady and her expression, contented. He wished to God that he felt that relaxed. When they’d come inside last night, they’d used the dry side of his sleeping bag to cover up with. Now, it lay low on her shoulder, leaving the tops of her breasts open to the morning sun streaming through the windows. Even with a slight mascara smudge below her lashes, she was beautiful. But he was too churned up to fully appreciate it.
Last night, they’d made love twice without protection. Twice. He hadn’t worried after they’d been together on the beach. What were the chances she’d get pregnant after sleeping with him only once? But this time… What an idiot he was. What idiots they both were.
Unless she was on the pill. That would explain her lack of concern about having sex without a condom. And she hadn’t been concerned. He would have sensed it if she was.
Warming to the idea, he felt the knots in his stomach ease. In this day and age, intelligent women took care of themselves, didn’t they? Kris was no dummy. Besides, he’d told her enough times that he wasn’t ready for fatherhood or anything close to it. She wouldn’t deliberately try to deceive him. She was too honest and she had too much class.
Satisfied that he had everything figured out, Zach looked down at her again, and this time he smiled at the view. She really was beautiful.
The roar of an engine and grinding gears jerked Kristin awake at the same time Zach sat upright. He swore beneath his breath.
“Etta?” she asked, wide-eyed.
“She must be here for her car.”
Kristin threw back the sleeping bag and hurried to grab her dress and panty hose from the chair while Zach snagged his jeans from the hardwood floor. He thrust both legs in at the same time, then lunged to his feet to yank them up.
Two doors slammed out in the driveway—not one—and he swore again. If it were any other woman running around in her underwear he wouldn’t care. Well, he’d care a little. But this was Kris, and he didn’t want people gossiping about her.
“Etta has someone with her,” he said in a rush, scooping up her white heels and adding them to her pile. “Better lay low till I get rid of them.” Then without thinking, he kissed her and hurried to the door, zipping his fly and digging in his front pocket for Etta’s keys.
Nonstop chatter accompanied the clunk of orthopedic shoes as the two women climbed the stairs and crossed the porch. He opened the door before Etta had the chance.
“Why, good morning, dear!” Etta exclaimed brightly. She tipped her cheek up for his kiss as she entered. “You remember Bertie Patterson, don’t you?”
Before he could say he remembered Mrs. Patterson, they marched inside, silky dresses swishing all the way into the living room. Apparently hats with flowers and netting were still in style because Bertie and Etta wore them proudly.
Etta’s smile collapsed in a hurry when her gaze darted from his spongy futon and sleeping bag to the lamp and old wooden rocker he’d found in the attic. “Oh, Zachary…” she moaned in dismay.
“It’s fine, Aunt Etta.”
“But it’s so dreadfully empty!”
“It’s convenient. I’ll only be here another few days, and I won’t have a lot of junk to put away before I take off. Now what brings you ladies by this morning? Heading out to church?”
Bertie nodded enthusiastically. “We’re breaking in a new minister.”
“But I need to pick up my car beforehand,” Etta said. “Bertie has a hard time climbing in and out of your truck, and we’re going visiting after church.”
Bertie peered up sweetly through her Coke-bottle glasses. “Did you and Kristin enjoy the movie last night?”
Confused, Zach glanced at Etta. “Movie?”
Etta shook her head and spoke a little louder. “He didn’t take her to the movies, Bertie. It was a dinner cruise.”
“Oh!” Bertie said, flustered. “Gracious, I’m getting as deaf as that strange Arnett woman.” She stuck a finger in her ear and cranked up her hearing aid. “I thought you said they were seeing a Tom Cruise film.”
“No, dear. And I doubt Mrs. Arnett’s deaf,” Etta said, keeping her voice raised. “I believe that son of hers just likes to yell.”
“You’d think they’d be a little kinder to each other on a Sunday morning,” Bertie declared.
“Indeed I would.”
The mention of the Arnetts sharpened Zach’s interest. “Mrs. Arnett and her son are back in town?”
Etta nodded. “When I picked up Bertie, the two of them were across the street at Anna Mae’s house, one hollering louder than the other.” Her raised brows and knowing tone said the Arnetts were up to no-good. “They had a small U-Haul in the driveway.”
“Mrs. Arnett owns the house, Aunt Etta. She’s entitled to take what she wants from it.”
“Oh, they weren’t taking anything,” Bertie piped up. “They were bringing it all back.”
Bringing it back? Zach slashed another look at Etta.
“The Mrs. never stepped a foot inside the house,” Bertie continued. “Just watched her boy drag box after box inside. It was plain that she wanted everything returned, but he had other ideas.”
“True enough,” Etta said, then frowned at the old-fashioned timepiece dangling from a pin on the front of her dress. “Oh, dear. We’d better move along before we’re late. Zachary, I need my keys. Yours are in your truck.”
“Here you go,” he said, dropping them into her hand.
She thanked him, then startled him by stepping close and lowering her voice again. “Tell Kristin goodbye for me. I assume it’s her perfume I’m smelling, not yours.” Her eyes twinkled at his slack-jawed look, and she added in a stage whisper, “Now don’t mess it up this time.”
Then, while he was still trying to come up with a reply, she patted his cheek affectionately and herded Bertie out the door.
When Kristin walked into the room a moment later dressed in his sweats again, Zach turned to her and shrugged. “She smelled your perfume.”
Not much got by Etta, Kristin thought, smiling. “Do you care?” She’d made a decision to be with him last night, and she only had one regret—that this was an affair, nothing more.
“No, I’m a big boy. If you’re worried that she’ll tell anyone else, though, don’t be. She likes you. Did you hear the whole conversation?”
“Most of it. The Arnetts are back. Zach, I need to go home and change, then see Chad. When I asked Mildred if she wanted Anna Mae’s journals—” She stopped when his gaze abruptly cooled. “Is something wrong?”
“Not that I know of,” he said, flashing a new grin and moving to the chair where his laundry was stacked. He grabbed a pair of clean socks. “Finish your thought.”
Frowning and wondering if she’d imagined that fleeting look, she went on. “I was going to say that Mildred has this notion that nothing should’ve been taken from the house. I think I told you she’s into psychic readings. She’s sure Anna Mae started the fire at my shop.”
Zach rolled his eyes and sank to the futon to pull on his socks.
“I know, but she believes it. Now that she’s returning Anna Mae’s things, I think Chad should search the house for those photographs. They could be inside something the Arnetts brought back. If we hurry, we can see Mildred before she leaves. There’s even a chan
ce that she found them and not realized they were important.”
“Fine,” he said casually. “Give me a minute to finish dressing, and I’ll drop you off at home.”
Kristin paused as his words sank in. Was he distancing himself again? “Don’t you want to go with me?”
“Thanks, but I can’t.” He took a T-shirt from the stack and pulled it over his head, then flashed another grin at her. “I need to get some work done. I’ll leave the ghost chasing to you and Hollister.”
“Zach?”
“Do you need a bag for your clothes?” he asked, then before she could answer, walked into the kitchen and raised his voice to be heard. “I think there’s one around here somewhere.”
Kristin stared after him, feeling a combination of hurt and bewilderment. Was he annoyed that she’d mentioned Chad after the night and morning they’d spent together? If so, why would he care? He’d not only told her he’d be leaving in a few days, he’d said the same thing to his aunt mere minutes ago.
Coming back into the living room, Zach handed her a plastic grocery bag. “Here you go. This should be big enough.” Then he dropped to the futon again to tug on his boots.
Suppressing a sigh, Kristin slipped her gown inside the bag, then wriggled her feet into her white heels. When they left a few minutes later, her mood was more conflicted than her outfit.
Her spirits were still low forty minutes later when she pulled in behind Mildred Arnett’s U-Haul and got out. Zach wasn’t the only reason she was out of sorts. When she got home, there’d been a message from Chad on her answering machine. He wanted her to go to Tuesday night’s annual Fraternal Order of Police dinner, where he’d be speaking. She dreaded calling him back.
Kristin walked up to Mildred’s open window and found her nervously chewing her lip. Before she could say hello, a patrol car pulled up to the curb with Larry McIntyre behind the wheel. Seconds later, Chad pulled in behind him.
“Mildred, what’s going on?” Kristin asked. “Why are the police here?”
The woman’s eyes bulged fearfully, her frizzy white hair practically standing on end. “Will found some of Anna Mae’s frogs smashed in the basement. I told him there was no use reporting a break-in—she did it herself to let us know she was upset. But Will called them anyway. What can the police do? They have no jurisdiction over the wills of the spirits. I thought returning the things we took would make everything all right, but—”
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